Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-04-02
ENGLIsa PARLIAMENT.

ENGLIsa PARLIAMENT.
Its Improbable Methods and Steady De-
cline-Au Talk and No Acknowledgement
Smash Predicted.
A growing number OF EngEshmen
are beginning to think OF their legisls-
I've body in the way that Carlyle
thought Of it Iamely, as the National
Palaver," writes London correspond
emit of the New York Commercial Adcer-
tiser. If it is the business of parliament,
as its name indicates, to talk, then the
English parliament is indeed a model
body, for 1t now does nothing else. In
the two sessions held in 1886 it was talK,
talk, talk-nothjng but talk; and it is
talk still. "Our old England may go
down in babble at last" sings the old
poet Tennyson, whose note Of pessimism
is SO very much more justified by facts
than most of his American critics appear
to thing. It is now sixteen years since
I first made acquaintance with the inside
of parliament, and during that time have
noted q steady decline and growing inca
paeity.
The proposed reform of parliamentary
procedure will not cure this. TIE dis
ease lies far deeper, because is is organic
"a fact which our ordinary politicians
do not and will not recognize. They
live, politically speaking, from hand to
moutb, ard shrink from putting to them
selves awkward questions, hoping that
the worn out machinery will last their
day, after which hundred deluges may
come for aught they care. But there
are exceptions to the rule. I was speak
ing yesterday to Scottish member Of
parliament about the dreary, unprofta-
BILE discussion which is going on every
night anent that vague and inane docu-
ment called the queens speech. "What
are things coming tor" said. He re-
piled, "They are coming to general
smash" Whether this is SO or not 1
will not attempt to say. But certain it
is that the mass of the people care less
for the doings of parliament. Nothing
comes of it, they say, and they are right.
And also certain it is that the present
condition of things can not 60 on idefi-
nitely. Some organic change must be
wrought in English Institutions.
A visitor goes down to Westminster,
let us say on Monday, when the house
of commons is to meet, at 4 p. m. (nom-
inRlly, in order to see the Oldest and
most celebrated representative body in
the world. After being elbowed about
among the strangers" Gas the British
public are officially designated in what is
supposed by the polite fiction to be their
house and ordered about by policemen
who look at him as though he were spy
or traitor, the visitor takes his seat in
the gallery and glances down into the
arena. It is p. M, and the speaker
is in his chair, but there are few men,
bers present, and nothing seems to be
doing. After awhile the visitor becomes
aware of dumb show going on-a sort
of pantoraime in which the chief per-
formers are clerk in wig and gown at
the table, and gentleman who stands
at the right hand side Of the piece Of
furniture. It is the reading Of the pri-
vate bills. If any of these should be
opposed, members will flock in, and
there will be q debate and division.
But otherwise the chamber will be al.
most empty. Gradually members come
struggling in and take their seats. There
is scarcely room in the body of the
chamber for two thirds of the members,
and therefore as the benches fill up the
late arrivals take their places in the side
galleries, whence they survey the scene.
There are no conveniences for writing or
taking notes, and as nearly everyone has
his hat on, less business like working
body it would be difficult to imagine or
describe. It is more than 4:30 o'clock
before the real business begins, for these
gentlemen who are supposed to be de-
voting themselves to the service of their
country are really engaged during the
working part of the day on their private
affairs. Their best energies are given to
the stock exchange, or the law courts. or
the office, or to pleasure; the dregs they
kindly offer to the unfortunate country.
The f ct indication of business is in
the notices of motion, members who
are called by name) reading out the
terms of a resolution which they an
nounce they will move on given occa-
sion. Then comes question time"
which generally consumes from three
quarters of an hour to nearly two hours.
Any member who has previously given
notice of his intention may put ques
ton to any member of the government
in the house on any subject, from 9
momentous diplomatic incident down to
the parish pump of Little Pedlington.
It can not be denied that these ques-
tions sometimes bring forth valuable In
formation, but that information might
all be printed, instead Of valuable time
being consumed in the answers. For be
IL remembered that these answers are.